Compare towns
Hampton vs Wells vs Wolfeboro vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hampton | Wells | Wolfeboro | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,713 |
6,571Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Wells High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.